Target-practice apparatus



Dec. 11 1923.

k E. E. ALM

TARGET PRACTICE APPARATUS Filed March 4. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 11, i923.

EINAR ERIK ALM, 0F STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.

TARGET-PRACTICE APPARATUS.

Application filed March 4, 1922. Serial No. 541,231

To all whomz't may concern:

Be it known that I, EINAH ERIK ALM, subject of the King of Sweden, residlng at Stockholm, Sweden, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Target- Practice Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to such an apparatus adapted for target practice with rifles and other fire arms, wherein a target is supported by a target holder which is bearing against a rigid foundation and, during sighting, transmits the deflections of the rifle to a recording device connected with the target holder.

The object of the invention is to cause the target to remain practically immovable during sighting, so that the target does not take part in the movements of the rifle, whether said rifle is swinging horizontally or vertically, or is rotated around its own longitudinal axis. Only by the target thus remaining immovable will the apparatus give a complete illusion of common target practice, and only then will it be of real importance as a practising apparatus.

The arrangement whereby this is attained is principally characterized by a movable connection or guide being arranged between the target holder and the rifle, said connection being such that the deflections and the rotary movements of the rifle during sighting will practically not be imparted to the target holder.

For a number of practical reasons this movable connection is so devised that the joint between the rifle and the target holder will be situated on the line drawn through the breech-sight, the muzzlesight and the centre of the target, that is to say, on the line of sight. It being assumed that the connection is such as to facilitate the swinging of the rifle upwards and downwards as well as toward the sides, turning movements of the rifle being also allowed by the said connection, the target will be unaffected by these movements.

In order that the recording device may reproduce the movements of the rifle during sighting correctly and accurately mark off the hits, it is also of importance that the recording member, consisting preferably of a pointer free to swing in all directions, is pivotally mounted at a point which is also situated on the line of sight extending through the breech-sight and the muzzlesight. The latter arrangement also brings about the simplification in the construction of the apparatus.

According to the invention, the target holder has at least two supporting points.

which bear at the same time against the rigid support on which the apparatus is resting during shooting practice. This arrangement is a security for the targets not swinging laterally, that is to say for its not assuming an inclined position if the rifle is turned- The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention by way of example. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus attached to the barrel of a rifle. Fig. 2 shows the apparatus viewed from above and Fig. 3 the same viewed along the barrel of the rifle in the direction of the arrow a (Fig. 1), and in vertical section on line in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows a vertical section on the same line a-b viewed in the direction of the arrow 0 (Fig. 1). Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line cZ-e in the direction of the arrows at this line. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line 7 4 in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 7 shows to a larger scale the fulcrum arrangement of the recording pointer. Fig. 8 shows the sight and the target. Fig. 9 is a general view of the rifle with the apparatus attached thereon.

The frame of the apparatus principally consists of a sleeve 2 adapted to be slipped on the barrel 1, the said sleeve being rigidly connected with the cross piece 4 by means of two rods 3, which cross piece carries the standard 5. The sleeve 2 may be locked onto the barrel by means of twoscrews 6 (Fig. 4) bearing with bosses against the sides of the sight 7 while the ends of the screws will be situated behind the sight and.

prevent the apparatus from being pulled off the barrel.

The recording member consists of a pointer 8, the fulcrum of which is situated on the line of sight 13. A disc 9. (Fig. 7)

serves as a bearing for the pointer, the said disc being held by two postslO projecting from the sleeve, which posts are adapted to be clamped around the disc 9 by means of the screw 11, Fig. 4. The disc is'sunk into the posts 10 and provided with an aperture havingthe pointer 8 thrust therethrough. The opening is sunk on one side of the disc in such a manner that the edge thereof without bending or strains in the opening.

T he target holder carrying the target 14 forms a yoke 15, the legs 01"- which are pro vided with supporting wheels 16 resting on afiXed foundation 1? when the apparatus is in use. The other portion of the yoke 15 serves as an attachment for the target 1%, the lower edge of which is provided with notches 19 Fig. 8, said notches being adapted to be slipped down onto screwsltl provided in the yoke 15 which screws, on being tightened, hold the target 14' in place. This target is preferably made so as to give illusion of an embankment with a plurality of targets with rifle ranges in "front thereof, and with a blindage against the wall of a mountain or a wood behind the targets, all in correspondence with the arrangement of an open rifle range.

Projecting from the yoke 15 are two 'rods 20 rigidly connected at their front ends with the cross piece 21. This cross piece has an opening 22 adaptedto receive a hook 23 projecting from the post 5. The opening 92 in the cross piece 21 is so spacious that the cross piece is free to swing in al having'been slipped onto the hook. The pivot thus obtained is situated on the e:-;- tended line of sight 13.

The movements of the rifle during sighting must be transmitted to the pointer 8 with the 'reatest accuracy. This is attained by the rear end ott the pointer forming a stud 24: projecting loosely into a hollow 25 provided in the yoke 15. This hollow is en.- larged downwards, and on the cross piece 21 having been slipped onto the hook-23 and the yoke 15 with the rods 20 being lowered, the stud ofthe pointer 24- is received and guided to the stud position 25. The hollow receiving the stud is provided in a plate 26 made substantially in the same manner as the disc 9.

During the horizontal movements of the rifle in sighting the pointer S is actuated by thev disk 9, and as the rearendQ of said pointer engages the'wall'of the opening25, this movement will cause the pointer to swing'horizontally about the fulcrum formed by the opening in the disk 9, and the point 27 of the pointer 8' will be moved in accordance therewith, that is to say in correspondence with the deflections of the ride, in front of a recording disc 28: This recording disc is arranged in a frame 29, carried by the cross piece 30-whieh is adapted to be displaced to and .fro on the rods 3 which directions on re /save are rigidly connected with the sleeve 2. (foiled around the rods 3 between the cross piece 30 and the i131 actuating the cross piece so that it will bear against the cross piece 4 rigidly connected with the rods. Thus the recording disc 28 is kept out of contact with the pointer n *edle 27 by means of the springs 31. The size of the disc and the inner size oi the 10, the said part 32 having a square ()1)Q11-' ing which is substantially similar in shape but of smaller size than the inner dimensions of the frame 29. The size oi? the opening is so adapted that on the pointer stud 24L striking any of" the edges of the opening 33, the swinging of the pointer will be limited in such a manner that the needle 27 will stop in the immediate proximity to the corresponding inner: edge of the frame 29, without touching the same In order to cause the pointer needle 27 to penetrate the lGCOfiliflg disc 28 and make a recordof the hit on pulling the triggenthe frame 29 carrying the disc is so connected with the firing mechanism oi thefritle that the frame, on pulling the trigger, will quickly move toward the rifle so much: as tocause the needle to penetrate the disc, whereupon it is-j erked to the-starting position with equal quickness. The arrangement for producing this effect is the ttollowi .g. Screwed into the cross piece 4 is a screw around which one arm of a bell crank lever 34;" is swingable, while the other arm 3 assumes an oblique position in front oi? i a screw 48 extending through an oblique groove slot l9 plfllldfid, in the bell crank lever. Inserted in the bore 36 of the barrel 1 of the rifle are a number of rods 37- the ends of which bear against each other. The rod located adjacent to the striking bolt of the rifle is provided with a cylinder 38 filling the' cartridge chamber, and the remaining rods are provided with cylinders 39 fitting sleeve 2 are helical springs he mu sale of:

the rifle. Screwed into therross piece coir.-

the rod 4-0 being the lever to swing, the same then actuating the screw 18 in such a mannerthat the cross piece 30 together with. the recording disc is brought forwards against the needle of the pointer 8 so that the latter penetrates the disc.

lVhen sighting is to be done, the striking bolt is cooked. The spring 11 mounted on the rod 40 moves the latter inwardly and thus all of the rods 37 rearwards so that the cylinder 38 in the cartridge chamber assumes substantially the same position as a common cartridge inserted into the cartridge chamber. lVhen the rifle 1s fired, its

striking pin moves suddenly forward and hits the cylinder 38, all of the rods 37 and then quickly shot forwards. The buffer 13 hits the lever arm 3 1 and rotates the lever so that the same brings the cross piece 30 together with the recording disc 28 forwards against the needle of the pointer 8 so that the latter penetrates the disc in the mannerabove described. The frame with the recording disc is then again moved quickly forwards through the action of the springs 31.

As will be seen from the drawing, the target 14: is situated behind the muzzlesight 7 of the rifle, which sight consequently cannot be used in sighting. v For this reason,

an additional sight 4:4. 8. is provided for target practice; This additional sight is adapted to be screwed up and down in a yoke 45, the shanks of which, depending on either side of the barrel of the rifle, extend through a cross piece 46 located underneath the barrel, said cross piece having the nuts 4:7 on the shanks bearing thereagainst. The operating position of the rifle for target practice is easily obtained by screwing the sight 44.- up and down in the yoke 45.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters .Patent of the United States is 1. A target practice apparatus. for usewith firearms including a target holder, a target supported thereby, a recording device including a recording member, means movably connecting said target holder to said recording device, and means connecting the recording member with the target holder, the connection between the rifle and the target holder on the one hand and the rifle and the recording device on the other hand being such that the deflections and turning movements of the rifle during sighting will practically not be imparted to the target holder, whereas said movements are imparted to the recording device, and the recording member of the recording device being held by the target holder during said. movements.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the movement connections 24L 25 between the target holder 15 and the recording member 8 are so disposed as to coincide with a line drawn throughthe'breech-sight and the muzzle-sight of thc'rifle, and the center of tl'ietarget, that is to say. with the line of sight while the rifle is moved in a horizontal plane. v 1

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the recording member of therecording device is fulcrun'ied on the rifle and consists of a swinging pointer 8, the fulcrum of the recording member being situated on the line of sight 13.

An apparatus as claimed in claim lin which the target holder 15 has at least two supporting pointers situated on gopposite sides of a vertical plane drawn through the line of sight 13 and adapted to simultaneously bear on a fixed support 17 during sighting.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the target holder 15 consists of a yoke surrounding the barrel 1 of the rifle, the legs of this yoke being arranged to rest on a fixed support 17 on opposite sides'of the barrel 1, supporting wheels carrying the legs of the yoke 15, a frame rigidly connected with the barrel 1 of the rifle and means including a universal joint connecting said yoke 'to said frame.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the target holder carries the target in a position to locate the same rearwardly of themuzzle-sight 7', arms projecting forwardly from said target holder. a cross-bar connecting the forward ends of said arms, a frame connected to the muzzle of the rifle and a universal joint connecting said frame to the cross-bar.

7. An apparatus as claimed'i'n claim 1 including a sleeve connected with the barrel of the rifle'and provided with forwardly directed rods, a cross piec'e carried by said rods, and a standard supported by the cross piece andprovi'ded with a. hook, said hook forming a portion of the means connecting the recording devicewith the target holder.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim l'ineluding a frame connected to the barrel of the rifle and provided with an upwardly projecting member which pivotally supaperture to permit free movement of the pointer.

10. A target practice apparatus includ ing a pointer, pivotally mounted on a rifle barrel, a target holder connected to the rifle barrel by means including a pivotal connection, a target supported by said holder, a disk carried by the target holder and provided with a l ife edge fulcrum engaging said pointer.

11. An apparatus as claimedin claim 9 in which the pointer is provided on opposite sides of its fulcrum with cone-shaped bosses having their vertexes directed toward each other and arranged in close proximity to each other toprevent the pointer from being displaced longitudinally.

12. A target practice apparatus including a frame connected to the rifle barrel, a tar.- get holder, a target supported by said holder, pivotal means connecting the target holder to saidframe, a record plate carried by said frame and movable toward and away from the muzzle of the rifle, a pointer pivotally mounted on said frame and opera; tively connected to the target holder to permit the pointer to be displaced when the rifle is moved horizontally relatively to the target holder, and means actuated by the rifle for moving the record disk toward said pointer for penetrating the record disk.

13. An apparatus asclaimed in claim'12 in which the means for-moving therecord disk. toward the barrel of the rifle includes abell crank lever having one of its ends pivotally connected to said-frame and provided with an elongated'slot, a carriage for saidrecord disk, a pin passing through said slot and connected to saidcarriage, and a plunger actuated by the rifle and adapted to engage one arm of the bell-crank lever for moving the latter.

'14. A target practicing apparatus including a series of abutting rods arranged in the rifle barrel, the innermost one of said rods beingprovided with an abutment adapted to be struck by the striking pin of the rifle, a sleeve connected to the muzzle of the rifle and providing a bearing-for the outermost one of said rods, the last mentionedrod being provided eXteriorly ofsaid sleeve with a buffer, an abutment fixed to the outermost one of the rods and arranged within the rifle barrel, and a spring arranged between the sleeve and. the last men tioned abutment for moving allot the rods ing their inner ends extending behind said muzzleesight, each ofsaidscreWs being provided with a shoulder, and said shoulders engaging the opposite sides of said muzzlesight. i w

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a rear-sight consisting of upper and lower cross-pieces, means detachably connecting said cross-pieces, and afvertically adjustable sighting element carried by one of said cross-pieces.

17..A target practice apparatus including a firearm, a frame rigidly connected to said firearm, a record plate movably mounted on saidframe, a target holder, a target supported by said holder, means pivotally connecting said frame'to said target holder, a. carriage member for said record plate, a pointer member associated with said frame and operatively eonnec-tedwith the target holder topermit movements of the riflebarrel to be transmitted to said pointer memher, and means actuated by the rifle for movin one of said members, toward the other member to cause the pointer member tov mark said record plate, IIn testimony whereof I afiig; my signature in. presence. of two Witnesses.

EINAR ERIK LM, Witnesses INnz SWEINN, ERIC Home. 

